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I was reading one magazines we get sometimes in our unit I came across a listing of every Marine that has died in a Combat Zone since operations in Afghanistan and Iraq began. This got me thinking about a man I knew pretty well that died while we were in Iraq. So let me tell you a short story if I may.

It all began after we crossed over the border from Kuwait into Iraq. We are a support battalion so we were in charge of keeping the division units supplied with beans bullets and bandaids. As our 56 vehicle convoy made its way through the desert we stayed off the main roads mostly travelling backroads and cross country. To be quite honest things get a bit blurry. We drove for 20 hours straight and rested for 3 or 4 hours at a time. It was the 3rd or 4th day since we crossed that we came across a little town (sorry I forget the name). It was dark and we didn't have NVGs. We usually drove without our headlights on but the night before there was an incident where some EPWs got ran over because they were face down on the side of the road(having just surrendered the Marines were securing the rest of the area while one guarded the prisoners). No one saw them till it was too late. 3 were killed by a 7 ton truck running over them. So this night as we were going through this village we had our light on so as not to hit anyone in the street.

Things felt bad for some reason. I can't really explain it but they just didn't seem right. There were stray dogs in the street barking at the vehicles and no civilians were out to see what the commotion was. Everyone was on edge to say the least. Well as we got further into the village there was a bridge where we had to cross. As we approached the bridge, we started taking fire from both buildings on each side of us. Then more fire from along the banks of the river. It looked like something out of Star Wars with all the tracers flying everwhere. I was scared out of my mind and starting praying out loud as we returned fire towards the muzzle flashes.
We had a problem with one of our LAVs stopping to engage the buildings. He trapped the rest of our unarmored vehicles right in the kill zone. So as I was honking my horn and revving my engine we were still taking fire. Finally one of the Marines in the LAV noticed what they had done and moved forward. We finally got out of the fire fight by speeding across the bridge and hauling ass off towards the rest of the convoy.
In the confusion that ensued PFC Chad Bales drove off of the road and flipped his LVS over fataly injuring himself. He was a good Marine and someone I knew personally and just wanted to share this story with you all

Semper Fidelis Chad Bales and Rest in Peace my Brother in Arms.

Embark

I flew missions earlier this year in that theatre, since most of the "fighting" was done we were flying in a radio relay C2 mode for both the Army and Marine convoys moving in and around BIAP. The worst feeling I have ever felt is hearing the ground unit taking fire or a report of an IED detonation along those convoy routes and aside from hearing our AWOs calling for air support for those troops on the ground not being able to a damn thing about it. It is heart wrenching when we hear that someone was WIA or KIA, our internal radio net on the jet would always go quiet when we heard any calls like that.

Thank you for the job you did, and what you continue to do.

Joint star... For Chad, for my uncle 1st of the 5th, and all the marines, and all those who elect to serve, no matter the country, bless them all, and may God in his infinite mercy grant peace to those who paid the ultimate price...

e8flyer,
I am sorry I didn't specify. This was in April of 2003. I haven't been back for another tour yet.

God Bless your Buddy Embark